Sri Lanka, Russia discussing Mi-17 helicopter deal

February 10, 2019 - 17:55

Sri Lanka is negotiating with Russia the purchase of a new batch of Russian Mi-17 helicopters, which the country will use in UN peacekeeping missions, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Dayan Jayatilleka told Sputnik on Sunday.

The ambassador recalled that Mi-17s were on the agenda of a Sri Lankan senior defence officials’ visit to Moscow in early September 2018.

While negotiations are underway, no specific document has been signed yet, and the number of helicopters that Sri Lanka is going to purchase has not been defined, Jayatilleka specified.

Sri Lanka has been purchasing Mi-17 helicopters since the early 1990s.

The Mi-17 medium twin-turbine helicopter is manufactured in a variety of forms, including cargo, passenger, search and rescue, flying hospital and firefighting models. Over 100 countries worldwide have purchased Mi-17 helicopters. (Colombo Gazette)

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The Colombo Gazette is a news website operating from Sri Lanka and accessed by Sri Lankans and others both in Sri Lanka and around the world. Colombo Gazette is part of the Colombo Gazette media group which also operates Leisure Plus Sri Lanka